Greetings to all PAHERP users,

We are pleased to announce that the PAHERP database will now become part of a 10-year statewide atlas formally referred to as thePennsylvania Reptile and Amphibian Survey (PARS). Beginning June 1st, the PAHERP Database will be changing over to a new domain name http://www.paherpsurvey.org with a new look and some new features. Your user account and records will be transferred over and there will be no need to re-register or resubmit your data. PARS will have a few new terms and conditions that you will need to agree to when you first login.

PARS is an important state-sponsored atlas project launching in 2013. PARS will determine the distribution and status of all amphibians and reptiles throughout Pennsylvania, building upon previous atlas efforts and combining modern technology with an army of citizen scientists known as "herpers" (herpetology is the study of amphibians and reptiles, and herps is slang for amphibians and reptiles). The project is a joint venture between the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) and the Mid-Atlantic Center for Herpetology and Conservation (MACHAC), funded by the PFBC (via the US Fish & Wildlife Service's State Wildlife Grants Program), the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Wildlife Resources Conservation Program), and MACHAC.

MACHAC is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and study of amphibians and reptiles through advocacy, education, and execution of research by professional herpetologists and ecologists in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States. Major partners and funding sources for programs include the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Service (US Department of Agriculture), United States Fish & Wildlife Service, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Major MACHAC projects also include the study and recovery of state and federally-listed amphibians and reptiles, notably important initiatives centered on the Bog Turtle and Eastern Massasauga.

We need your help in creating an army of citizen scientists to help tell us about the status and locations of Pennsylvania’s herps. This is the reason PAHERP was created and now we are moving forward to expand our efforts with the state. We look forward to your continued support to help conserve our native species for tomorrow.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me at info@paherp.com or jposton@machac.org.